FMV moves to sign contracts for Sweden's HIMARS order

FMV is negotiating and signing contracts for the American HIMARS rocket artillery system from Lockheed Martin, a package worth SEK 7 billion that includes launchers, ammunition and maintenance, with delivery from 2027. The system's mobility and short time to operational capability were decisive in the selection, which is also complemented by a cooperation agreement with Finland on rocket artillery.

Daniel TrangeledSWEDEN18 Sept 2026Original Source

Sweden's Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) said it will now negotiate and sign the contracts needed to field the HIMARS rocket artillery system, built by US company Lockheed Martin. The move follows a government authorisation granted earlier this month.

The package covers launchers, ammunition, command support, training and maintenance, valued at a combined SEK 7 billion. First deliveries are due in 2027.

FMV said it weighed several systems against performance, delivery time, cost, security of supply and interoperability with NATO and priority partners before choosing HIMARS. Oscar Elardt, head of army systems management at FMV, said the decisive factor was "the assessed time to operational capability" in the army's war units.

HIMARS rides on an all-wheel-drive truck chassis with a three-person crew: gunner, driver and gun commander. It can hit targets from about 80 km out to 300–500 km depending on the munition. "The mobility and the ability to fire quickly also make the system difficult for an enemy to detect," said Ove Hjärtberg, FMV's project manager for artillery and mortar systems.

The purchase was announced alongside a cooperation deal with Finland on rocket artillery, previously reported by NDS.

Common questions about the article

Questions and answers generated automatically from the article content.

01What does Sweden's SEK 7 billion HIMARS package include and when will deliveries begin?

Sweden's HIMARS package, built by Lockheed Martin, covers launchers, ammunition, command support, training and maintenance valued at SEK 7 billion combined. FMV will now negotiate and sign the necessary contracts following government authorisation. First deliveries are due in 2027. Last fact-checked: 2026-09-18.

02Why did FMV choose HIMARS over other rocket artillery systems for Sweden's army?

03How far can Sweden's HIMARS launchers strike targets and what makes the system hard to detect?